Midland College honors faculty members

Published 6:00 am, Saturday, January 15, 2011

Midland College honored two of its own on Thursday when more than 100 faculty and staff members gathered for the annual Teaching Excellence Awards ceremony.

This year's recipients were Nicholas Elderkin, associate professor of music, and Robert Weidman, director of the respiratory care program.

The awards were split in to two categories. Elderkin won in Academic/Transfer and Weidman won in Career and Technical Education.

"It was certainly an amazing honor," Elderkin said afterward. "When I came here to Midland College four years ago, my goal was to impact the lives of my students through teaching. Now, I've found my peers have impacted mine."

Elderkin came to MC after receiving his doctorate degree in music from Texas Tech University. He served as a part-time instructor and graduate assistant at Texas Tech before arriving in Midland.

Stanley Jacobs, associate vice president of instruction at MC, said Elderkin has helped the school become one of only four community colleges that is an all- Steinway School.

He also has helped the school receive more than $665,000 in grant money, since joining the faculty four years ago.

Meanwhile, Weidman is in his 27th year at the school and also won the award in 1998. Before becoming a teacher, he was a therapist at Midland Memorial Hospital.

"It's hard to put into words (what the award means)," Weidman said. "You never expect to be nominated by your peers. When you do, it is a little overwhelming. There are a lot of wonderful teachers at Midland College. It's nice to be considered one of them."

Weidman said what he enjoys most about teaching is changing the lives of his students, as they learn and become successful. Elderkin said teaching requires one to always be inspiring students.

Elderkin and Weidman were the winners, but President Steve Thomas said each nominee was deserving of the award.

"It is unfortunate in an event like this that we only have a few so-called winners out of a wonderful group of nominees," he said.